Download KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!

Summer 2012
Produced by the Publications Department
Ministry of Immigrant Absorption
Ida Ben Shetreet - Director, Publications Department
Laura L. Woolf - Director, English Language Publications
Don’t Let the Workmen Work You Over
How to Purchase a Washing Machine
Safety Corner – Electricity
Understanding Garment-Care Symbols
How to Buy Gold Jewelry
Preventing Moths
Facing the Truth- Moisturizers
Homemade Spa Treats
Coming Clean- The Truth about Shampoos
Know Your Rights! Canceling a Transaction
Resources
Updated
for Summer 2012
1
2012
No.4
A Word from the Editor
Around this time of year many of us start thinking about freshening things
up; with the coming of summer weather, it can be hard to resist the urge
to smarten up our home décor, our wardrobes, or our personal style. To
celebrate the spirit of the season, we’ve packed this issue of ConsumerFocus
chock full of tips and advice about hiring workmen, professional floor
polishing, clothing-care, and smart shopping for washing machines and
gold jewelry. “Baduk” shares their findings on shampoos and skin creams,
and we’ve put together some budget-friendly style and decorating ideas.
Just for fun, you can pamper yourself with our recipes for good-enoughto-eat homemade spa treats. And finally, we take an in-depth look at what
the law says to do when you’ve changed your mind about a purchase and
what your rights are.
We hope you enjoy this issue of ConsumerFocus. Happy consuming!
Laura Woolf
Editor, ConsumerFocus Magazine
2
Plumbers, Electricians, and Painters, Oh My!
The plumber refuses to quote a price
over the phone for opening a drain?
The
air-conditioner
technician
regrets to inform you that a valve is
broken and will be a small fortune
to replace? The painter ‘forgets’
to include VAT, materials, and the
door and window frames in his price
quote? A great many complaints
received by consumer organizations
are about unscrupulous workmen
and overcharging for standard jobs.
Here are some ways to avoid having
the “shiputznik” work you over.
How to
Prevent the
“Shiputznik”
from Working
You Over
Plumbers
When the drain is clogged, most people reach
right for the phone to call a plumber. But you
can save yourself money by first trying to remove
the clog by setting a pail underneath the sink trap
and removing the cleanout plug and washer. If
the drain is only slightly clogged, a few quick
probes with a screwdriver may solve the problem.
It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with your
plumbing, and to observe where to open your
pipes before you actually have a problem and
the sink is full of filthy, disgusting water.
If none of your efforts are successful, then you
will have to call in the professionals. The first time
that you call a plumber, it’s not always easy to
know whom you are dealing with. As a general
rule, if a plumber is unwilling to give you a price
quote for a standard service such as opening a
clogged drain or changing a pipe, and tells you
he needs to see it first, be wary. If you have the
time and patience (and your kitchen floor is not
flooding!) call a few plumbers and ask their prices
in order to get an idea of what you should be
paying before you agree to have one come to
your home.
3
SMART SHOPPING
Air-conditioner
Installation
When you purchase an air conditioner, be sure
to ask whether the quoted price includes the
installation, and exactly what else the quote
includes. For example, if you need a new electrical
outlet, will this be a separate charge? When the
installation technician comes to your home, ask
to see certification that he and his company are
authorized to install air conditioners. Ask for price
quotes in writing, on official company stationary.
It is worth noting that not all air-conditioner repairs
need necessarily be expensive. For example, if
you are told that a cable needs to be replaced,
this is not a reason to panic; most cables do not
cost more than approximately 100 shekels. Don’t
let an unscrupulous technician try to convince
you otherwise. Before replacing any part, it is
worth asking the technician why he thinks it needs
replacing. Ask him to explain exactly what he is
doing. This advice applies to all kinds of repairs,
not just air conditioners.
Painters
Before hiring a painter, be sure that he intends
to prepare the walls for painting, and that the
price quote includes the preparatory work.
A
professional painter will smooth the walls and
fill in cracks and holes. Beware of painters that
simply intend to slap on a coat of paint without
any other preparation. Find out whether you will
need to supply the paint and materials, and be
sure to include the costs into your budget. Keep
in mind that purchasing the paint yourself allows
you to shop around for the best prices. If you
wish the painter to supply the paint and materials,
find out whether his price quote includes them.
Many cut-rate painters will quote an astonishingly
low price, and only later inform you that the
materials are extra. Find out whether the painter
will bring drop-cloths to protect your furniture and
possessions, or whether you must supply those as
well. Be sure to receive a written, detailed price
quote.
Electrician
Just as with clogged pipes, there are initial steps
you can take on your own when your electricity
“crashes” that may help you avoid calling the
electrician. In many cases, your electricity will
shut itself off simply because it is overloaded, i.e.
you are operating too many electrical appliances
at once. Try turning off the appliances and see
if you are able to open the fuse. If you cannot
open the fuse, this probably means that there is a
short circuit in one of your appliances, which can
be dangerous. Unplug the appliance, and call
an electrician. Never engage a non-authorized
electrician that does not have a certificate from
the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Labor.
4
SMART SHOPPING
What to Look For
When Purchasing a
Washing Machine
The Israel Standards Institute certifies
both domestic and imported washing
machines for sale in Israel. Their
inspections focus on safety features,
ability to withstand high temperatures
and water pressure, quality of
heating mechanisms, the stability of
the machine during use, and other
important elements. Be sure to look
for the Israel Standards Institute “tav
teken” when purchasing a machine,
and keep in mind the following:
• Only allow a professional technician to install
the machine and ensure its stability.
• Top-loading machines generally use less
electricity and water, but have a smaller load
capacity. Front-loading machines usually have
a larger load capacity, but use more energy
and water. It is also necessary to bend over
to load the machine. Note that the larger the
machine opening, the easier it is to load the
laundry.
• Be sure that any machine you choose has a
thermostat that allows you to determine the
water temperature.
• Investigate whether the machine has watersaving devices such as a half-load setting.
• Check that the trap is easily accessible.
• The more features a washer has, the more it
usually costs. Ask yourself whether you really
need to have four or more water levels, dozens
of cycle and setting combinations, or specialized
cycles for fabrics such as silk. The basic cycles
and settings can handle most washing needs,
and you can replicate most special cycles with
buttons or dials. An electronic touch pad may
allow custom programming, but it can also be
more confusing to use, especially at first.
• Keep in mind that parts for imported machines
may be more expensive and complicated to
obtain.
• Be sure to measure the space intended for the
machine, including the space necessary for
opening the door.
• Evaluate your specific needs, including how
often you do laundry and your average size
load.
• All imported machines should have a “tag
energia” (a list of energy specifications) and
include the manufacturer’s name, model
name and/or number, load capacity, electricity
requirements, and water requirements.
• Be sure that the machine you purchase comes
with a user’s manual and that the electrical
plug conforms to Israeli outlets.
• If the washing machine is installed in a cabinet,
be sure that it has a mechanism to prevent
flooding.
What is a “Tav Teken?”
A “tav teken” is certification from the Israel
Standards Institute that a product meets
quality and manufacturing standards in Israel.
5
SMART SHOPPING
How to Decipher Garment-Care Symbols
Proper care and laundering of clothing
extends it’s life and keeps your garments
looking good for longer. But all too
often, the care tags come with confusing
symbols instead of written instructions. So
how can you be sure when to machineor hand-wash your new sweater, or
whether to put that cotton blouse in the
dryer? The Israel Standards Institute sorts
it out for us.
*
*
*
*
Maximum temperature 40
Regular cycle
Regular rinse
Regular spin dry
* Maximum temperature 40
* Permanent Press
* Gradual rinse cycle
Laundering
*
*
*
*
*
Maximum temperature 40
Gentle cycle
Regular rinse
Spin dry
Do not wring
* Maximum temperature 95
* Permanent press
*Gradual rinse cycle
*
*
*
*
Maximum temperature 30
Delicate cycle
Regular rinse
Delicate spin cycle
*
*
*
*
Maximum temperature 70
Regular cycle
Regular rinse
Regular spin dry
*
*
*
*
Hand wash only
Do not machine wash
Maximum temperature 40
Handle with care
*
*
*
*
Maximum temperature 60
Regular cycle
Regular rinse
Regular spin dry
* Maximum temperature 95
* Regular laundry cycle
* Spin dry
* Do not launder
* Handle with care when wet
* May use chlorine bleach
* Maximum temperature 50
* Permanent Press
* Gradual rinse cycle
* Do not use chlorine bleach
6
SMART SHOPPING
Ironing
* Machine dry
* Regular cycle
* Use hot iron (up to 200)
* Machine dry
* Low temperature
* Use warm iron (up to 150)
* Use moderate iron (up to 110)
* Do not machine dry
* Steam may cause damage
Dry-cleaning
* Do not iron
* Do not steam
* Dry-clean only
* Do not dry clean.
7
SAFETY
CORNER
• Keep all electric appliances away from water,
including sinks and bathtubs. Never touch
anything that runs on electricity when your
hands are wet.
• If you have small children in your home, insert
plastic safety caps in all unused electrical
outlets.
• Keep electric appliances and light bulbs away
from flammable liquids or materials.
• Make sure that children don’t play near
outdoor electrical poles or Electric Company
panels.
• Don’t run extension cords and cables under
rugs.
• Carry appliances by their handle and not by
their cord.
• When taking a plug out of a receptacle, don’t
pull it out by the cord.
• Most appliances, such as televisions, need to
have a free flow of air around them so they do
not overheat and start a fire. Do not obstruct
the flow of air around such appliances.
• Have a multi-purpose fire extinguisher at hand,
near your electrical panel.
• An electrician should examine your electrical
panels at least once a year. During the
year, connections in the panel constantly
heat up when the power that is being used
is at a high level, and cool off again when
the power consumption goes back down to
normal. The changes in temperatures cause
the connections in the panel to expand and
contract, which loosens them and could cause
the connections and the wires to start burning.
You can avoid this very dangerous situation by
having your main and sub panels checked at
least once a year (preventive maintenance) by
a qualified electrician.
Electricity
Each year many people are
injured in and around their homes
because of carelessness and lack
of knowledge about electricity.
Licensed Electrician Jonathan
Z. Kremer shares the following
simple safety precautions to help
you avoid damage and harm.
• All outlets in your home should be of the
three-pronged type. Replace all the older twopronged outlets. Do not use adapters that
allow you to plug a three-pronged appliance
into a two-pronged outlet.
• Regularly inspect electric cords for damage.
If you see a crack in the insulation, repair or
replace it.
• Do not overload electrical circuits. This may
happen when you plug too many appliances
into the same outlet using adapters. Avoid
using 3- way adapters (octopus adapters) for
high-power appliances (irons, heaters, ovens,
microwaves, etc.). You can use multi-outlet
strips with computers and small electrical
devices.
For more information and advice
about electricity in Israel, visit
www.magavolt.co.il
8
ALL THE GLITTERS?
Get What You Pay For When Buying Gold Jewelry
The law determines karat weights as follows:
• 999.9 thousandths* - 24 karats
• 916 thousandths 22 karats
• 875 thousandths 21 karats
• 750 thousandths 18 karats
• 585 thousandths –
14 karats
• 375 thousandths –
9 karats.
Gold jewelry is not an everyday
purchase, so when you do shop
for gold, whether to purchase a
wedding ring, a special gift, or an
heirloom piece, it’s important to
shop wisely. Consumers choose
gold jewelry based on two main
factors; design and price level.
The price of a piece of jewelry is
influenced, among other things,
by the purity level of the gold
(karat weight). How can you be
sure that the karat number you
are quoted is the true weight of
a piece?
* With the exception of 24-karat-gold, which is
the purest concentration of gold that you can
buy, gold is usually mixed with other metals.
A thousandth is the percentage of pure gold
contained in the metal.
The lower the karat weight, the less expensive a
piece of jewelry should be, unless the piece is
set with precious or semi-precious stones or has
an elaborate design. Items containing less than
375% pure gold (9 karats) cannot be sold as
“gold.”
The markings on gold are regulated, and gold
items may not be sold without the following three
symbols:
1. Manufacturer’s or importer’s symbol
(usually initials)
2. Symbol of karat weight
3. Symbol of certification that the karatweight symbol is correct.
The manufacturer places the first two symbols
upon the item. The Israel Standards Institute
places the symbol of verification following
inspection. Be aware, however, that there is
no obligation to display the symbols on items
weighing less than 2 grams. Nevertheless,
even items weighing less than 2 grams must be
brought for verification by the Israel Standards
Institute.
Here’s what the Israel Standards Institute
recommends:
What the Law Says
In order to protect consumers, the law mandates
that all gold jewelry crafted in Israel must undergo
verification of the karat weight.
9
ALL THE GLITTERS?
Among the most common markings, you’ll find the following:
916-999.9
875 thousandths
thousandths
(21 karats)
(22-24 karats)
750 thousandths
(18 karats)
585 thousandths
(14 karats)
375 thousandths
(9 karats)
The symbols may often be too small to discern clearly, so when shopping for gold jewelry you may
wish to equip yourself with a magnifying glass. Better jewelry shops will also often have them. All
jewelry shops must display a chart of karat verifications in a prominent place.
When purchasing gold, in addition to a receipt, ask the shop to provide you with documentation of
your piece’s weight in grams, and the karat weight.
A merchant that sells gold jewelry that lacks the necessary symbols and verification is violating the
law, and you may file a complaint with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Labor (see Resources
Guide). If you own a piece of gold jewelry weighing over 2 grams that was purchased in Israel and
that does not have the proper symbols, or if you have doubts about the authenticity of a piece, you
can have it checked by the Israel Standards Institute (see Resources Guide).
Types of Gold
Rose Gold
Colored Gold
Rose gold, also known as pink gold or red gold, is
obtained by increasing the copper-colored alloys
and decreasing any silver-colored additives.
Gold itself comes in only one color, yellow. There
is no such thing as naturally occurring rose or
white gold. These colors are achieved by mixing
yellow gold with various other metals. These
metals, such as copper, silver, or nickel, and
called “alloys,” produce the different shades of
gold. Note that 24-karat gold, since it contains
no alloys, tends to be soft and needs extra care to
avoid damage.
White Gold
White gold is created by increasing lighter alloys
of silver, zinc, nickel, and copper to tone down
the yellow gold. The resulting 14-karat white gold
contains as much gold as 14 karat yellow gold
but is nearly white in color.
Filling and Plating
Yellow Gold
Gold-filled jewelry is created by forming a tube of
solid gold (usually 14 karat) that is then “filled”
with a base metal and bonded together. Gold
plate is a film of gold particles that have been
adhered to any kind of base metal by means of
an electroplating (or dipping) process. It will not
usually last as long as gold-filled pieces.
24-karat-gold by definition will always be “yellow
gold” as it is pure and contains no alloys.
However, it is possible to produce a color close
to yellow while adding other metals to create 10,
14, and 18 karat yellow gold. These will be more
durable than the pure 24-karat-gold.
10
THOSE DARN PESTS!
Holes in Your
Clothes?
Moths in Your
Cupboard?
Here’s
What to Do
animal bristles in brushes, wool felts in pianos,
and fish meal in fish food, as well as synthetics
or fabrics blended with wool. Damage often
appears in hidden locations such as under collars
or cuffs of clothing, in crevices of upholstered
furniture, and in areas of carpeting covered by
furniture.
Fabrics stained by foods or perspiration are more
vulnerable to moth damage.
Moths, known in Hebrew as “ash,” can cause
real damage to clothing, upholstery, and carpets.
Unfortunately, many Israeli homes lack sufficient
closets and storage spaces to keep clothes
properly and reduce risk of infestation. Here’s
what you need to know to keep these pests at bay.
Clothing Moths
Don’t confuse clothing-moths with the common
food- and grain-infesting moths that you often
see flying around the house. Clothes moths are
usually smaller, only about 1/4 inch in length,
while most food-infesting moths are about 1/2
inch in length. Clothes-moths are relatively easy to
catch when they land, and usually only fly around
the immediate area of an infestation. Also, unlike
food moths, they tend to flutter about rather than
fly in a direct, steady manner.
Keeping Moths Under Control
You can limit clothes-moths by a variety of
methods, including periodic dry cleaning or
laundering, proper storage, freezing, heating, or
using an insecticide. You can usually deal with
clothes-moth problems on your own, although
you may need to call in an exterminator for
difficult or widespread infestations.
Life Cycle
An Ounce of Prevention
Females of most clothes-moth species lay an
average of 40 to 50 eggs over a period of about
2 to 3 weeks. They die once they have finished
laying eggs. The eggs themselves attach to
threads of fabric with an adhesive secretion, and
larva hatch in 4 to 10 days.
It is the larvae that cause damage by feeding on
wool clothing, carpets, rugs, and upholstered
furniture. They also feed on furs, stored wool,
The best way to prevent or control moths is to
clean periodically those parts of your home that
can attract and harbor them. These include:
• Under heavy pieces of furniture;
• Along baseboards and in cracks where hair
and debris accumulate;
• Closets, especially those in which woolens and
furs are kept.
11
THOSE DARN PESTS!
28 grams (1 ounce) dried ginseng
204 grams (8 ounces) of whole cloves.
Blend the herbs and make into sachets using
cloth bags.
Other natural products that are believed to be
effective as moth repellents include lavender,
lemon, hyssop, winter savory, and cedar shavings.
The vacuum cleaner is your best tool for most
of this cleaning. Be sure to dispose of the bag
contents promptly; they may include eggs, larvae,
or adult moths.
Infestations may first begin in woolen garments
or fabric remnants stored for long periods. Hang
such items periodically in the sun, and brush
them thoroughly, especially along seams and in
folds and pockets. Brushing destroys the eggs,
and exposes larvae. Larvae are strongly repelled
by light, and will fall from clothing when they
cannot find protection.
You can also dry-clean items, or thoroughly
launder items in very hot water (at least 48° C)
for 20 to 30 minutes, which kills all stages of
insects. This is the most common and effective
method for controlling clothes-moths in clothing,
blankets, and other washable articles. However,
you cannot wash many woolen garments in hot
water, so dry-cleaning may be the only suitable
cleaning option. You can also place clothing in a
dryer on the highest setting for about 15 minutes
or in a freezer for about two days; this is usually
enough to kill eggs.
Always keep fabrics clean; moths are less likely to
feed on clean fabrics than on heavily soiled ones.
I Think My Clothes are
Infested… What Do I Do Now?
If you do detect clothes-moths, you can use an
insecticide on articles that cannot be dry cleaned,
laundered, heated, or frozen. Find a product
designed specifically for clothes-moths and follow
the directions exactly. Insecticides for clothesmoths usually contain pyrethrins, which you can
spray directly on fabrics, and generally do not
leave toxic residues.
Some insecticides have an oil base. Do not spray
them on silk, rayon, or other fabrics that stain
easily.
Rugs and Carpets
Closely inspect areas beneath heavy furniture
and along carpet edges for infestation. You can
dry-clean area rugs, or hang them out in the
sun and vacuum them. If you have wall-to-wall
carpeting, pull the edges back so that you can
apply insecticide to both sides. If the rug pad
contains animal hair or wool, and has not been
treated by the manufacturer, spray it also.
Sometimes felts and hammers in pianos become
infested and damaged. You will usually have to
have a professional
piano
technician
make repairs. You
may also want to
consider
using
synthetic felts.
Storage
Before storing susceptible items, first be sure that
they are clean and free of eggs or larva, then store
in airtight containers. You can also place insect
repellants inside the storage containers, but if the
container is not airtight, they will not work well.
Old-fashioned mothballs are generally effective,
but they are toxic and must be kept away from
children and pets. They also have an unpleasant
odor, and if they come into contact with plastic
buttons, hangers, or garment bags, can cause
the plastic to soften and melt.
There is some evidence that natural, non-toxic
combinations of herbs can repel moths. One
mixture you can try includes:
56 grams (two ounces) dried rosemary
56 grams (two ounces) dried mint
28 grams (1 ounce) dried thyme
12
FAC I N G
FAC T S
another layer, the stratum corneum. The stratum
corneum is composed of cells that are almost
pure protein, and is, for the most part, dead.
There’s No Such
Thing as a
Miracle in
a Jar!
Many manufacturers claim that their products
can penetrate more deeply than those of their
competitors, and change the structure of your skin
cells. However, any preparation that can actually
alter cell structure must be licensed as a drug and
cannot be sold as a cosmetic. In actuality, no
creams can penetrate the upper stratum corneum
layer of skin to reach the living epidermal cells.
Nor do they need to, since it is the outer layer
that dries out.
Your body loses moisture from the dermis through
the epidermis. This process is accelerated in cold,
dry, winter weather, and during Israel’s hot dry
summers. Home heating, sunlight, harsh soaps,
and smoking can also dry out the skin. When the
outer layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, lacks
sufficient moisture, it will start to feel dry, wrinkle,
and even crack.
Imagine a perfect cream that will
give you skin that is “nourished,”
“glowing,” and “repaired.” Many
of us are willing to spend whatever
it takes to achieve the miracles
claimed by manufacturers of costly,
luxurious moisturizers. But are we
really buying empty promises? The
answer, according to “Baduk’s”
investigators, is that we likely are.
Skin also contains sebaceous glands that produce
sebum, an oily substance that contains waxes
and lipids. Sebaceous glands are embedded
in the dermis over most of the body. They are
more concentrated in the scalp, face, and
forehead. Sebaceous glands are most active in
men and young women, while the lowest levels
of sebaceous activity are among more mature
women, making them particularly vulnerable to
the effects of dry skin.
The majority of skin moisturizers fight dryness in
two basic ways. The first is by utilizing ingredients
known as humectants that attract water to the
stratum corneum. Examples include glycerin,
lactic acid, glycolic acid, hydrolyzed proteins, citric
acid, hyaluronic acid, and salicylic acid. Some
humectants are capable of attracting water from
the air and tissues surrounding the skin, but can
only work well when there is sufficient humidity in
the air to draw from. Synthetic humectants, such
as the glycols (propylene glycol, glycerin) can
cause irritation and dermatitis in some people.
To understand how moisturizers work, it’s worth
knowing a little about the structure of skin. Skin
is composed of several layers. The lowest layer is
the dermis, and is made up of connective tissue,
blood vessels, nerve endings, hair follicles, and
sweat and oil glands. The outermost or top layer
of skin, that which is visible, is the epidermis, and
rests on top of the dermis.
The thickness of the epidermis varies with your
age, your sex, and the part of the body on which
it is located. The epidermis itself is covered by
The second way that moisturizers work is with the
use of ingredients that physically block moisture
13
FAC I N G
FAC T S
loss. Oils limit evaporation from the skin and are
very moisturizing because they create a barrier
to water loss. However, oil-based, water-free
products (ointments or oils) are usually unpleasant
except on extremely dry skin. Other water-free
bases contain lanolin or cholesterol that absorb
water. These absorptive bases are less greasy than
water-free products, however, lanolin sometimes
causes allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
even in the low concentrations in over-the-counter
creams. However, a health-fund dermatologist
can prescribe more effective preparations
containing much higher concentrations of AHAs
or BHAs that cost a fraction of their glamorous
counterparts. A dermatologist will also be able to
help you to determine the most suitable products
for your particular skincare needs.
Even the best moisturizer can provide only
temporary effectiveness. There is at least one way
to maximize the effects, and that is to moisturize
immediately following a bath or shower, while
skin is still moist. Be sure to drink enough water
on a daily basis as well.
Body, Hands, and Face
The main difference between creams for body,
face, and hands lies in their viscosity. Face creams
are generally thinner than hand creams, which
are designed to stay on in rough conditions. Body
creams fall somewhere in between. A bigger
difference between products is their price. Face
creams are generally far more expensive than
hand and body creams, leading to the question,
can you use body creams on your face? Read on
for the answer.
Some Good News
It is true that there have been some breakthroughs
in skin care. One of these is the use of alpha
hydroxy acid, which does seem to be able to
improve skin appearance. Alpha hydroxics are
naturally-occurring acids that can be extracted
from fruits, sugar cane, and milk. They work by
decreasing the “glue” that holds dead cells onto
the surface of the skin, helping the dead cells to
slough off leaving behind a layer of smoother,
softer skin. Products containing alpha hydroxy
acids have been on the market for more than a
decade, and today you can even find products
such as shampoos and cuticle creams that
contain them. Alpha hydroxy acids have lately
been joined by beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). The
main difference between alpha hydroxy acids
and beta hydroxy acid is their lipid (oil) solubility.
Alpha hydroxy acids are water-soluble only, while
beta hydroxy acid is lipid (oil) soluble. This means
that beta hydroxy acid is able to penetrate into
your pores, which contain sebum, and exfoliate
the dead skin cells that build inside the pore.
Because of this difference in properties, beta
hydroxy acid is more suitable for use on oily
skin with blackheads and whiteheads than alpha
hydroxy acid.
“Baduk’s” investigators tried out 30
different creams, using a variety of hand,
face, and body creams. Using a special
apparatus, they measured the level of
moisture in the skin prior to applying a
moisturizer, then again after one hour,
two hours, and four hours.
Every one of the creams tested raised moisture
levels in the skin during the first two hours
following application. Following this, the moisture
levels generally decreased overall. The products
that achieved the highest moisture levels over
time were the face creams. Hand creams fell
in the middle range of effectiveness, followed
by body lotions. On the other hand, the face
creams were no more dramatically effective than
the hand and body lotions. There was also no
correlation between the price of a cream and
its effectiveness. As “Baduk” points out, when
we pay a lot of money for face cream we are
also paying for elegant packaging, a pleasing
fragrance, and a famous name, all of which
can offer an undeniably pampering experience.
However, if your priority is to save money, “Baduk”
suggests buying a good body lotion that contains
a sunscreen and using it for your face as well.
Many cosmetic companies offer products
containing AHAs and BHAs, and there is some
evidence that both types of acids can be effective
14
FAC I N G
FAC T S
Understanding the
Hype
However, according to the American Food and
Drug Administration, there is no clinical proof that a
vitamin applied to its surface can nourish skin.
Some of the
Common
Ingredients
Found in
Moisturizers
Aloe vera is a plant from the lily family that
Liposomes are microscopic sacs, or spheres,
Chamomile: Chamomile is known for its
has effective anti-irritant properties. It is listed as an
ingredient in many skin lotions, but, according to
the American Food and Drug Administration, much
higher concentrations of aloe vera are required than
most products contain for the anti-irritant properties
to work.
soothing properties, and is a popular additive to
teas. However, its presence in moisturizing creams
has not been proven to have any measurable effects
on skin.
manufactured from a variety of fatty substances,
including “phospholipids,” which are natural
components of cell membranes. When properly
mixed with water, phospholipids form liposome
spheres, which can “trap” any substance that will
dissolve in water or oil. Manufacturers say that
liposomes act like a delivery system. They claim that,
when present in a cream or lotion, liposomes can
more easily penetrate the surface skin to underlying
layers, “melt,” and deposit other ingredients of the
product. However, the ingredients actually used
in cosmetics may originate either from natural or
synthetic sources.
Collagen (from young cows) is the protein
substance found in connective tissue (connective
tissue binds together and supports organs and other
body structures.) A great deal of research has been
done on the different types of collagen and its uses.
In cosmetics, collagen has a moisturizing effect. It is
not water soluble, but it holds water. According to the
American Food and Drug Administration, there is no
convincing evidence that collagen can penetrate the
skin and have an effect below the surface.
Comdogenics- comdogenics are substances
that can cause clogged pores and blackheads. A
number of products on the market claim to be “noncomdogenic,” that is, are free of pore-clogging
substances. Despite the fact that it is difficult to
verify such claims, it is worthwhile seeking out such
products if your skin is oily or prone to breakouts.
Cerebrosides (from animals or plants) are a type
of glycolipid (a chemically combined form of fatty
substance and carbohydrate) produced naturally
in basal epidermal cells--the deepest layer of skin.
After cerebrosides are formed, they are secreted to
the outside of the cells and serve as a protective
coating. As new cells form in lower layers of skin, the
older skin cells move closer to surface layers and start
to dry out. During this process, the cerebrosides are
chemically changed and form ceramides, part of a
network of membranes between cells. Skin moisture
and suppleness comes from this network. The raw
material for cerebrosides in cosmetics comes from
cattle, oxen or swine brain cells or other nervous
system tissues. Alternatively, the raw material may
be isolated from plant sources. The cosmetics
industry claims that the use of cerebrosides in skin
products results in a smoother skin surface and
better moisture retention. The American Food and
Drug Administration has not evaluated the studies
on which these claims are based.
Nayad is a trade name for yeast extract. Nayad
is described as a system that takes yeast cells and
refines them hundreds of times, resulting in a highly
concentrated, odor-free, unusually potent yeast
extract. Test subjects report a ”noticeable smoothing
of lines and wrinkles.” According to the American
Food and Drug Administration, there is no data to
either substantiate or refute these claims.
Manufacturers add vitamins to cosmetics
because foods containing vitamins A, D, E, K, and
some of the B complex group are necessary in
our diets to maintain healthy skin and hair. Using
these vitamins in cosmetics that are applied to
the skin surface implies that they will nourish skin.
From Baduk #16
15
JUS T
FOR
FUN
Save Money and Pamper Yourself –
Try These Homemade Spa Treats
You’ll find most of the ingredients
in your cupboard, or at your
supermarket, pharmacy, or nearby
health-food shop.
Banana Hair Mask
Mash together one ripe banana with 1 teaspoon
of olive oil. Smooth onto your hair from the roots
down. Massage the mask into your hair and
scalp, and then wrap your hair in plastic wrap or
a hot towel for 15 minutes. Rinse, shampoo, and
condition as normal.
Apple Exfoliation Mask for
Oily Skin
Grate one medium-size apple and mix together
with 5 tablespoons of honey. Smooth over your
Pretty Dangerous! Cosmetics Safety Tips from the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• The most common injury from cosmetics is from scratching the eye with a mascara wand. Eye
infections can result if the eye scratches are not treated. Never try to apply mascara while riding in
a car, bus, train, or plane. If mascara flakes into your eyes while you sleep, you might awaken with
itching, bloodshot eyes, and possibly infections or eye scratches. To avoid eye infections or injury,
remove all makeup before going to bed.
• Sharing makeup can also lead to serious problems. Cosmetics become contaminated with bacteria
that the brush or applicator sponge picks up from the skin--and if you moisten brushes with saliva,
the problem is much more severe. Washing your hands before using makeup will help prevent
exposing the makeup to bacteria.
• Artificial nails must be completely sealed because any space between the natural nail and the
artificial nail gives fungal infection an opportunity to begin. Such infections can lead to permanent
nail loss.
• Keep makeup containers closed tight when not in use.
• Keep makeup out of the sunlight to avoid destroying the preservatives.
• Don’t use eye cosmetics if you have an eye infection such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), and throw
away any makeup you were using when you first discovered the infection.
• Never add any liquid to a product unless the instructions tell you to.
• Throw away any makeup if the color changes or an odor develops. Preservatives can degrade over
time and may not be able to fight bacteria.
16
JUS T
FOR
FUN
Olive Oil Hand Smoother
face and leave on for ten minutes. Rinse off with
cool water.
Mix together 170 milliliters (1/2 cup) of table salt,
170 milliliters cup of sea salt, and 170 milliliters
cup of olive oil. Massage hands with the mixture,
rinse with warm water, and apply hand cream.
Cucumber Mask for Oily Skin
Mix ½ a cucumber (do not peel,) one teaspoon
of mint, one tablespoon of lemon juice, and one
egg white together in a blender. Refrigerate the
mixture for ten minutes, and then apply to your
cleansed face. Rest for 15 minutes, rinse first with
warm water, then cool water.
Peppermint/Lavender
Foot Bath
Mix 170 milliliters (1/2 cup) Epsom salts with 5
drops of peppermint extract, 3 drops of tea tree
oil and 3 drops of lavender oil together in a large
pan or bowl of warm water. Soak your feet for
10-15 minutes, then dry and apply moisturizer.
Avocado Moisturizing Mask.
Peel a ripe avocado, remove the stone, and mash
with a fork until it is creamy and smooth. Apply
the avocado mask immediately to your cleansed
face, and rest for ten minutes. Following ten
minutes, rinse off with warm water and apply your
regular moisturizer.
Banana Moisturizing Mask
Mash half a banana until smooth and creamy.
Apply to your cleansed face and rest for 15-20
minutes. Rinse first with warm water, then cool
water. Pat your face dry and apply your regular
moisturizer.
Yogurt-Honey
“Anti-Aging Mask”
Combine 2 tablespoons of non-flavored yogurt,
½ teaspoon of honey, and ½ tablespoon of
lemon juice. Break open 3 capsules of vitamin
E and blend into the mix. Smooth onto your
cleansed face and relax for 15 minutes. Rinse off
with warm water and apply moisturizer.
Oatmeal Exfoliating Mask
Mix one pack of plain instant oatmeal with water
until you achieve the consistency of a paste. Dab
the mixture onto your cleansed face. Rest for two
minutes, and then rinse with lukewarm water.
17
SMART SHOPPING
Looking Good
on a Budget
• Take the time to figure out what suits you.
Buying clothes that you don’t look or feel good
in is simply a waste of money, because you will
never wear them, or be miserable when you
do. Try on a few of your outfits, and take a
good, honest look at yourself. What cuts and
lengths flatter your figure? Which outfits make
you look sleek and svelte, and which make
you seem 5 pounds heavier? Which colors
make your eyes sparkle, and which add years
to your face? If you are unsure, ask a friend
that you can count on to tell you the truth.
Your goal is to accentuate your good features
and hide your flaws. Wear darker colors and
smaller prints on the parts of your body you
wish to de-emphasize, and lighter colors and
bolder patters where you want to accentuate.
Wearing the same shades of any color (not just
black!) can help you look taller and slimmer.
Set guidelines for yourself and stick to them.
• Decide on three key colors that either match or
coordinate with what you own and keep most
of your purchases within these color families.
• Before purchasing an item, ask yourself what
you already have in your closet that it will go
with, and where you will wear it.
• Buy more solids than prints. They will work with
more things and you’ll get bored with them
less quickly.
• Watch for the sales. The ‘end of the season’
in Israel is pretty much in keeping with the
schedules overseas, meaning that winter
clothing will often begin to appear in the hottest
part of August, but go on sale in December
when you are actually looking for a warm,
cozy knit; summer items will become available
around March and go on sale in June and July
when you are ready for something crisp and
cool.
Update your style and your
wardrobe, and look like
a million bucks for a few
shekels!
• Do your homework before you set out to shop.
Look through your closet to see what you
already have, and what you need. Make a list
to keep your shopping focused.
• Don’t buy too-trendy pieces at end-of-theyear sales if you don’t plan to wear them until
the next year. By next year the trends will have
changed and you will look and feel dated.
18
SMART SHOPPING
necklace. The proprietors of shops are usually
helpful, and happy to advise you on how to
craft your pieces.
Invest in classic styles, in the cuts and colors
that flatter you.
• A good shoemaker (sandlar) can clean,
resole, and restore your shoes. He can also
change heels and other hardware. Don’t bring
your look down, or damage your feet, with
rundown shoes.
• The bazaars and “dollar” shops can be a good
source of inexpensive jewelry, as well as beads
and jewelry supplies. You can also purchase
earrings and necklaces for a few shekels and
take them apart to use in other projects or
remake them to suit your taste. Invest in jewelry
pliers to help you do a professional job.
• Shop the ‘bazaars’ for basics such as tee
shirts, socks, sweatpants and sweatshirts,
even underwear and bathing suits. Bazaars
are also a good place for finding baby and
children’s clothing. Often you will find clothing
manufactured in Israel for sale overseas.
These items are sometimes overstock or “sug
bet” (defective,) so be sure to check for missing
buttons, crooked seams, and other flaws. Try
things on when you can. Often an item will
have a minor defect such as a crooked label
or missing button that you can fix yourself.
• Scout out the yard-goods stores for trimmings
and buttons. You can use pieces of stylish
trimming to make belts, or add them on to
revive last summer’s half-dead tee shirt or
straw hat. Sometimes just changing the buttons
on a jacket or shirt can give you a whole new
look.
• You can use wide trimmings to lengthen skirts.
Try colored lace or grosgrain ribbon.
• Update your look with accessories. Inexpensive
jewelry, scarves, and belts can take your basics
from one year to the next.
• Bring items that are ill-fitting, outdated, or the
wrong cut for your figure to your local tailor or
seamstress. Sometimes a strategic alteration
can add years to the life of a garment.
• Find out where the closest bead shop is, and
learn to make your own jewelry for next to
nothing. A few beads on a wire can become
earrings to match your favorite dress; a charm
or stone on a leather cord can be a unique
• Unless you are in love with a particular shade
or formula of makeup, you don’t need to spend
a lot of money on luxury-brand cosmetics. The
bazaars and discount makeup shops carry
19
SMART SHOPPING
inexpensive brands and overstock of name
brands in colors and formulas similar to the
high-end luxury items. They are also good
sources for hair accessories, makeup brushes
and sponges, and other tools. More important
than how much you pay for a cosmetic is
using the right tools and correct application
techniques. Books and websites are good
sources for quick and easy makeup lessons.
Inexpensive but well-blended makeup, in
colors that flatter your skin tone, will look far
more chic than randomly applied patches of
garish color that cost you an arm and a leg.
• When purchasing cosmetics at discount shops
or bazaars, be sure never to buy anything in
an open or damaged package, that has an
unpleasant odor or consistency, that has
separated, or has changed color. Makeup
has a shelf life, and using products that have
expired can be harmful as well as unpleasant.
• Think carefully before purchasing costly
makeup or perfume just to receive the “gift with
purchase.” First, ask yourself if the products
you must buy in order to receive the gifts are
items that you need or use. Most gifts consist of
sample-sized products. Ask to see the contents
of the gift bag. Are they items that you will use
or have wanted to try? Are the complimentary
eye shadows or lipsticks in shades that suit
you? Are you a fan of the perfume that comes
in the purse-sized bottle? If your answers are
“yes,” then go ahead and enjoy your gift. If
you have little use for a gift, ask yourself if it
is really worth the money. If you want the gift
because it contains one or two items you really
would like, compare prices and see if simply
buying regular sizes of these items would be
more practical.
• Many fragrance lines include body lotions,
creams, and sprays that are often less expensive
than the perfume version of the fragrance. You
can enjoy your favorite fragrance and your
skin can enjoy the moisturizing benefits at the
same time.
20
CLIP
AND
SAVE
Women’s Size Conversion Chart
American
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
UK
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
Italian
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
Israeli
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
Women’s Shoe Size Conversion Chart
American
6
7
8
10
12
U.K.
3.5
4.5
5.5
7.5
8.5
European/Israeli 36
37
38
40
42
Men’s Suits, Coats, Sweaters
American
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
U.K.
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
European/Israeli 42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
Shirts
American
14
14½
15
15½
16
16½
17
17½
U.K.
14
14 ½
15
15½
16
16½
17
17½
37
38
39
41
42
43
44
European/Israeli 36
Men’s Shoes
American
7.5–8
8.5-9
9.5-10
10.5-11
11.5-12
12.5–13 13.5-14
U.K.
6.5-7
7.5-8
8.5-9
9.5-10
10.5-11
11.5-12
12.5
42
43
44
45
46
47
European/Israeli 41
Readers’ Corner
Naomi Greenglass-Rotem from Tel Aviv sent us
her tips for smart ironing:
• To prevent wrinkles, remove clothing from
the dryer as soon as the dryer stops. Fold or
hang clothing right away.
• Fold and smooth sheets and pillowcases on
top of a warm dryer to smooth out wrinkles.
If you do have to iron them, do so while they
are still damp.
• Hang wrinkled clothes on hangers instead of
•
•
•
•
14.5-15
15.5-16
48
49 50
leaving them in an “ironing pile,” where they
will become even more wrinkled.
Ironing clothes on the inside prevents
staining.
When purchasing clothing, look for noniron fabrics.
Make sure that the iron is always clean!
I save used dryer-sheets and use them to
dust the furniture. They work well and leave
a fresh scent.
Thanks Naomi!
21
Taking a Shine to Your Floor
Tired of washing your floors
and having them look exactly
the way they did before you
started?
Frustrated by the same marks
that keep appearing as soon
as the floor is dry?
Thinking of hiring a cleaningand-polishing company to get
the job done right?
Here’s what you need to know
before you make that phone
call.
According to Katz, the first step in the cleaning
process for standard terrazzo floors consists of
sanding the tiles with steel wool to remove any
grease or oil. Then a thin, uniform level of wax
is applied. In order to obtain a highly polished
surface, the cleaners then apply special crystals to
the floor and grind them into the porous tiles with
a special machine, resulting in a high gloss.
However, Katz cautions, this process should never
be used on new terrazzo floors that are less than
a year old. New floors contain moisture, and it
can often take up to one year for them to dry out
completely. When waxes are applied as part of the
standard polishing process, they seal the moisture
into new floors, preventing it from evaporating.
Water remains trapped inside the floor, and before
long stains will appear on the floor surface. New
floors should be cleaned with a special, fine steel
wool and the use of detergents and excessive
water should be avoided. In addition to the
polishing machine, the professional cleaners
should be using a special vacuum machine to
The floors of most Israeli homes are tiled with
‘terrazzo’ stone, although some homes do have
ceramic tiles, “porcelain granite,” and different
kinds of marble. The terrazzo floors are those
standard tiles (balatot) with the mosaic pattern
with which we all are familiar. Each type of
material needs different treatment, as do new
floors. However, according to an investigation
conducted by “Baduk,” many professional
“cleaning and polish” companies do not seem to
be aware of this. This is important, because the
wrong kind of treatment can damage or ruin your
floor.
As senior engineer Reuven Katz explains, being
sure of the professionalism of any company that
you engage is extremely important. “We are
talking about a completely saturated market,”
Katz points out, “with a large number of nonprofessionals. A discernable number of cleaners
have very little knowledge. Sometimes the results
are far worse than the floor looked before being
cleaned.”
22
Taking a Shine to Your Floor
The "Baduk" team also found that a number of the
companies contacted during their investigation
offered general “housecleaning” the same time
as the floor cleaning and polishing. As “Baduk"
points out, there are different levels of cleaning,
and it is impossible to know how thorough a job
is being promised. They recommend that you be
wary of such offers.
Most of the companies surveyed by "Baduk"
offered basic warranties on their work that cover
crystal polishing, on condition that the customer
continue to clean the floor with suitable products
that they can purchase in supermarkets.
absorb the excess water. If you wish to polish
a new floor, be sure that the company is aware
that the floor is new, and have them explain to
you how they intend to polish it without sealing
the floor.
Marble and Stone Floors
There are various types of marble flooring
available, and some marbles tend to be highly
porous and fragile. Consumers looking for marble
flooring are not always aware of the differences
in types of materials. The most beautiful and
expensive materials are not always the strongest
and longest-lasting. In fact, most are classified
as “soft” materials, and need special care from
professional polishers and cleaners. According
to Reuven Katz, and as discovered by the "Baduk"
investigation team, many companies do not know
how to treat marble and stone properly.
Marble and stone floors must be cleaned and
polished using a machine with special polishing
discs that can be set according to the softness
of the stone. Some marbles need graduated
polishing. According to Katz, many companies
do not do so since it necessitates changing the
discs.
Crystal-polishing methods should never be used
on marble and stone. Also, unlike new terrazzo
floors, marble and stone floors can take up to three
years before moisture evaporates completely.
Use of the wrong materials will trap the moisture
inside and cause irreversible damage.
Conclusions
• Verify the professionalism of any company
you engage. Unprofessional treatment with
unsuitable materials can cause damage or
ruin your floors.
• Do not wax or polish new floors. New floors
should be treated with fine steel wool, and
detergents or wax products should be avoided.
• As Reuben Katz points out, “most workers in
the wax/polish industry are not “companies,”
and do not know the proper treatment for
marble and stone floors. They need to use a
special machine with polishing discs and not
steel wool, and should not do crystal polishing.
• Do not be tempted on the basis of a telephone
price quote – the prices can be higher once
the work actually commences.
• In order to achieve a reasonably shining floor,
you can purchase polishes in supermarkets
and use them yourself.
• Use non-abrasive materials in order to avoid
scratching the floor’s surface.
• In order to maintain your floor over time, it
is recommended to use only small amounts
of water for washing, and to dry the floor
thoroughly.
Be Wary of Price Quotes
A large number of complaints have been filed
with the Israel Consumer Council against
cleaning and polishing companies by consumers
who were quoted one price over the phone,
and then faced with workmen claiming that they
needed to use special materials, or that the floor
needed special preparations, in order to extract a
higher payment. Be sure to ask what is included
in a price estimate, and try to schedule work so
that if there is a large discrepancy between the
telephone quote, and what the workmen try to
charge, you can tell them “no thank you.”
From Baduk # 18
23
At Home - Spruce Up For Less
Installing a New
Terrazzo Floor?
Some Advice from the Israel
Standards Institute.
• Before purchasing, ask to see an inspection
certificate issued by the Israel Standards Institute,
or certification of a “tav teken.”
• Make sure that there is a label on the back of
each tile containing the details or commercial
markings of the manufacturer.
• Be sure that each package contains the following
details; manufacturer’s name, dimensions of the
tiles, level of hardness (resistance to abrasion),
quality*, and date of manufacture.
• Be sure that the level of resistance to abrasion
is suitable to your needs. The levels are rated
from 1-4, with level 1 being the strongest and
most suited to heavily trafficked areas.
*Quality is rated as “sug aleph, sug bet, or sug
gimmel” with sug aleph being the highest. Sug
aleph must have a minimal amount of cracks or
chips, and no stains, scratches, discoloration, or
similar defects.
Before installation, be sure to check that the sand
layer upon which the tiles will rest is clean and
dry. Damp sand can result in stains, mildew, and
discoloration of the tiles. The thickness of the sand
level should be a minimum of 6 centimeters.
Following installation, you must refrain from
walking on the new tiles for 4 days, and prevent
heavy traffic for 7 days. Do not install wall-to-wall
carpeting or parquet tiles for at least one year.
If you are purchasing a new apartment, is worth
noting that the law mandates that all floors be
installed according to standard, which allows for
the use of up to 10% of sug bet terrazzo tiles in a
sug aleph floor, provided that the sug bet tiles are
not concentrated together in one location, but are
dispersed throughout the floor. If you do not wish
for the contractor to use any sug bet tiles, you must
specifically state this in your contract at the time of
purchase.
24
You don’t need to do major
renovations
or
completely
redecorate to give your home
a fresh, new appearance. The
following tips can make a big
impact for little or no money.
• Replace the kitchen or bathroom tiles. If
changing all of the tiles is not an option,
mix and match the old tiles with a few
colorful new ones.
• Create designs on tiles with waterproof
contact paper. Cut out shapes and paste
them to alternating tiles, or measure
tile-sized squares and paste on in a
checkerboard pattern.
• Sometimes replacing a tired old shower
curtain with a bright new one can completely
change a bathroom. A matching bath mat
and hand towels complete the new look.
• Cut up old, unused clothes or scout out
bargain fabric remnants to make new
cushion covers, curtains, or table covers.
At home - Spruce Up For Less
or napkins and tie them onto the rod.
• An old table covered with a beautiful piece of
fabric gets a new lease on life. ,If the fabric is
long enough to reach the floor, you can use
the space under the table for storage.
• Pretty up plain shelves by gluing lace or ribbon
trimming to the edges.
• Create a bedside table by placing a round
piece of plywood or Formica on top of a small,
sturdy wastebasket, and cover with a piece of
pretty fabric. You can use the wastebasket for
storage.
• A fresh coat of paint does wonders in any
room. Consider painting one or two walls with
an accent color. Try out techniques like sponge
painting. Pastel shades look fresh, and the
sponging gives an "impressionistic" effect. Or
use a small roller to paint “wallpaper” stripes
on an otherwise plain wall.
• Cover cardboard boxes with colorful contact
paper to make storage bins for children’s
rooms.
• Add an elegant touch by sponge-painting
metallic craft paint on flowerpots, picture
frames, shelves, cabinet doors, even furniture.
• Use large, inexpensive straw baskets for
storing magazines, toys, and rolled-up towels.
Sponge-paint them with craft paint to make
them unique.
• Replace the old knobs or handles on your
cabinets with new ones, and create a new look
in your kitchen.
• Spray a little perfume or cologne on light bulbs
for a whiff of fragrance when you turn on the
lights.
ights.
• Rearrange the furniture. Pull the furniture away
from the walls and position it at new angles,
and see how different the room looks.
• Throw away dead plants and bring in some
fresh new ones. If you don’t care for live plants,
try an arrangement of silk plants or flowers, or
a dried bouquet.
• A new area rug is a great way to soften a
room. Find one in colors that complement the
room. Put it at an angle under a coffee table
or dining room table for a stylish effect.
• Make a framed picture collage on the wall. If
you have a few frames that don't look good
together, refinish them yourself with metallic or
colored craft paint.
• For an inexpensive alternative to new curtains,
hang a curtain rod and simply fold fabric
placemats or napkins over it. If they are square,
hang them on the diagonal. For rectangular
fabric, fold lengthwise. Another option is to
fold all of the rectangular fabric the same
length, or fold in half on each end, allowing
it to drape in the middle. Alternatively, stitch
matching or contrasting ribbon onto the mats
25
COMING
CLEAN
The Truth About
Shampoos!
Fuller, shiner, hair? No more dandruff? Color
that stays fresh and vibrant? All this and more
is what shampoo advertisements claim their
products will give you. But according to a "Baduk’
investigation, some of these promises are about
as substantial as soap bubbles. Most shampoos
are detergents, and not much more.
"Baduk’s" investigation team set out to test four
major claims used to sell shampoo. They checked
the extent to which a variety of shampoos indeed
“repaired dry or damaged hair,” “protected color,”
“added fullness,” and “clarified and removed
build-up caused by styling products.”
The Results
Before revealing the results of the "Baduk"
investigation, let’s take a look what makes up
a bottle of shampoo. Most of the ingredients
are not very glamorous. The main ingredient is
generally a detergent, such as ammonium lauryl
sulphate, that acts to clean the hair. Almost all
shampoos contain tiny polymers that attach to the
hair to make it smooth and full. Various silicones
coat the hair that add softness and moisture,
making hair easy to style and comb. All shampoos
contain foaming agents and preservatives to
inhibit bacterial growth. But as “Baduk” points
out, many of the miracle ingredients advertised
on the bottle tend to benefit only one entity; the
manufacturer, and most of the ingredients that
claim to improve hair quality or texture do so on
levels that can only be measured with laboratory
instruments.
In each category, they checked nine “regular”
shampoos as well as specialized versions offered
by the same companies, in addition to 3 “antidandruff” shampoos. The team then shampooed
1,700 locks of various hair types according to
the type of hair each product claimed to treat;
damaged hair, colored hair, fine hair, and hair
containing styling gel, mousse, or spray. After
shampooing, the hair was blow-dried and the
results were inspected. The team noted whether
damaged curls were shinier, smoother, or easier
to comb; whether colored hair retained color;
if fine, thin hair looked fuller, and if hair that
had dulled because of product buildup seemed
cleaner. The team also measured whether hair
was easier to comb and was free of tangles.
One of the four special claims investigated by the
"Baduk" team was shown to be false right from
the start: every type of shampoo tested, even the
simplest, removed product buildup following use.
This would imply that there is no need for special
“clarifying” shampoo.
Regarding the remaining claims (fullness,
damage repair, and color protection) the "Baduk"
26
COMING
CLEAN
investigators discovered that “regular” shampoos
generally preformed as well as the special shampoos
designed for specific needs. They also noted that
there was no connection to the price of shampoos
and to their performance levels, e.g. the more costly
shampoos were not necessarily the most effective.
The Recommendations:
"Baduk" recommends that if clean hair is your
goal, find the shampoo that has the fragrance
that most appeals to you and that costs the least
amount of money.
If you hope to give your hair greater volume,
protect your hair color, repair dryness or
damage, be aware that the products that actually
achieve these benefits are not necessarily the
products that claim to do so. It’s worth testing
out a few, but don’t expect miracles from any of
them. Your best recipe for healthy hair is to eat
a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, and wear
a hat to protect your hair and scalp.
What’s Really in the Bottle? What Savvy Consumers Should Know
Sun Protection: the sun’s rays can cause hair
color to fade and can damage unprotected scalps.
None of the products tested by "Baduk" managed
to prevent color fading in any significant way.
Proteins: Even though living follicles produce
hair, hair itself is made of dead cells. Eating
enough protein can protect hair quality, but the
effect of applying protein to hair, especially in the
concentrations found in shampoos, is negligible.
Protein cannot repair already-damaged hair.
Fruit Extracts: alpha-hydroxy acids extracted
from fruits and added to skin creams can
accelerate the turnover of dead skin cells and
help skin to look fresher; in shampoos they do
not cause any shedding of dead hair cells, nor do
they have any other effect.
Collagen: Collagen is a protein that is claimed
to improve elasticity in skin, but the effect on hair
is minimal. Like other proteins, it cannot repair
damaged hair or contribute to improving its
appearance or texture.
Humectants: humectants, such as sorbitol and
glycerin, can attract moisture to certain surfaces.
Unfortunately, the detergents in the shampoo
wash away the humectant ingredients away
immediately. In other words, they are ineffective
in shampoo.
Vitamins and “Pro-Vitamins”: Panthanol
and other “pro-vitamins” are chemical substitutes
for natural vitamins. Neither synthetic nor natural
vitamins added to shampoos can ‘nourish’ your
hair.
Plant Extracts: Aloe vera, chamomile,
henna, lemongrass, and other popular ‘natural’
ingredients add a pleasant fragrance to products,
but cannot do much more than that.
27
K N OW YO U R R I G H T S !
specific location and that you will pay a specific
price. This is a contract. By the same token, any
agreement between a consumer and a provider
of goods or services is considered a contract.
But what happens when we simply regret a
purchase or change our minds about it? When
the shirt is really not flattering or the shoes are too
tight, when you decide that you don’t really need
the large-screen TV, or you have found the same
toaster elsewhere at a lower price? It is possible
to cancel the transaction? Generally speaking,
the answer is ‘no.’ Of course, a merchant can
agree to take an item back, but the decision to do
so rests with him. Similarly, the conditions of the
return are dependent upon the merchant as well,
e.g. if you will be given a credit, an exchange,
or your money back. Make sure you ask about
return policies before you make your purchase.
On the other hand, consumer protection laws do
define a number of specific situations in which
you are permitted to cancel a transaction. But
even when it is legally permissible to break a
contract it is not always clear how and when to
go about it. For example, if you have purchased
an item on installments, what happens if you have
already made some of the payments? What if
you have given a post-dated check? Can you
return an item once you have removed it from the
package?
The Law of Returns
Changed your mind about that
dress? Opened the box and
discovered a damaged radio?
Kicking yourself for purchasing
that expensive set of cookware
from a door-to-door salesman?
Want to know what to do about
it? Here’s what the law has to
say.
Here are some examples
and explanations of what
the law has to say.
The other side has failed to meet
their obligations:
Any kind of purchase, in legal terms, is a form
of contract, and the law dictates that a contract
is binding, whether it is in writing, verbal, or in
another form.
For example, when you hail a taxi on the street,
get inside, and begin your journey following the
activation of the meter, you and the driver have
essentially agreed that he will transport you to a
A contract equally obligates both sides. This
is true whether the contract has been made in
writing, verbally, or is implied. If one party to
the agreement fails to meet their obligations
completely, regardless of the significance of the
violation, the law allows the other party to request
a court order for enforcement of the contract.
28
K N OW YO U R R I G H T S !
with a consumer protection organization or
with a lawyer to help you to determine what is
reasonable. Following notification, if the other
side still does not uphold their commitments
within the designated time period you then have
the right to cancel the contract, as long as doing
so can be justified. To return to the example of the
carpenter, if he has failed to install your cabinets
because of circumstance beyond his control, such
as a fire in his workshop, canceling the contract
would not be considered justified, and you would
not have the right to do so.
The law further mandates that the other party can
claim compensation, as well as return of whatever
money or assets that they have already advanced.
However, it is necessary to demonstrate proof
before the court that damage has been caused in
order to claim compensation.
Is any violation of a contract grounds
for canceling it? If the other side commits
what the law defines as a ‘fundamental
violation’ (hafara yesodit,) and had you known
of it in advance you would not have entered
into the contract in the first place, the law gives
you the right to cancel it. To illustrate, say you
have ordered a refrigerator, television, or other
appliance. You were promised delivery within 3
weeks, and two months have already gone by.
This is considered a fundamental violation of
the contract. As another example, suppose you
have committed to the purchase of a 120-meter
apartment, and the apartment turns out to only be
92 meters. This is also considered a fundamental
violation of the contract and the law would allow
you to cancel the purchase. In some situations,
both parties to a contract may agree between
themselves that a specific clause is considered
a fundamental violation of the contract. In other
words, both sides agree in advance that a specific
violation of the contract is to be considered a
fundamental violation, and the injured party
would automatically be entitled to cancel it.
In order to cancel a contract, you can
do so on your own without the help of the courts.
All that is necessary is to notify the other party in
writing of your intention to cancel (used registered
mail or fax, and retain proof of notification). When
you are not certain whether a contract violation
falls into the category of “fundamental” or “nonfundamental” it is recommended to proceed as
if the violation is “non-fundamental,” that is to
say, you should notify the offending party and
offer them the opportunity to correct the situation
before you cancel the contract. However, if the
other party is in possession of your money or
property and refuses to return it you may have to
seek the assistance of the courts.
Anticipated Violation: what happens when
it becomes evident that the other party will not
honor their obligations, but the violation has not
yet occurred? The law relates to this scenario
and determines that if it becomes clear that a
party to a contract is unable or unwilling to honor
their obligations, for various possible reasons,
the other side is entitled to break the agreement
even before the time that the contract was to have
been implemented. For example, assume that
you have registered for a course, and the school
shuts down and goes bankrupt before the course
gets started. The school has not yet violated
the contract; nevertheless you are entitled to
cancel your registration since it is clear that the
agreement will be violated and classes will never
be held.
A Non-Fundamental Violation, on the
other hand, does not automatically entitle you to
cancel a contract. Instead, the law grants the other
party the opportunity to rectify the violation. What
this means in practice is that you must notify the
other side of your intention to cancel the contract
within a certain time period unless their obligations
are fulfilled. For example, a carpenter promises
to install your kitchen cabinets within one week
and fails to do so. In such a case, you must notify
him of your intention to cancel the contract unless
the cabinets are supplied within a reasonable
timeframe. The law does not specifically define
what is considered a reasonable period of time;
instead a “reasonable time period” is dictated
by the circumstances. You may wish to consult
29
K N OW YO U R R I G H T S !
What “Cancellation” Means
If you have not yet paid it is not necessary to do so once a contract is cancelled.
If you have paid cash and the merchant will not refund it you will have to file a court claim.
If you have paid with a check, you check can be forwarded for payment to a third party, and you
will have to honor the check. In such a situation, not only will canceling the check not help you,
it can involve you in claims made by the third party. Therefore, it is important when paying by
check to limit its usefulness to other parties by personally writing in the name of recipient yourself,
and to place diagonal lines following the name so that it cannot be forwarded to another party.
If you have paid by credit card, the law permits you to instruct your credit card company not to
honor the transaction and to stop any payments.
If payments are made by a standing order (hora’at keva) you may notify the bank that the contract
is cancelled and instruct that payments be stopped.
Discrepancies: a significant number of
transactions require a formal sales contract,
including apartments, furniture, computers,
electronics, automobiles, and other high-priced
goods. The sales contract, which outlines the rights
and obligations of both buyer and seller, determines
that the item supplied by the seller be in accordance
with what the customer has agreed to purchase.
Any discrepancy (Ee hatama) is a violation of the
contract. If, for example, an appliance does not
function properly, or if you a supplied with a different
model than what you agreed to purchase, these
are considered discrepancies, and are in violation
of the contract. When this occurs, you must notify
the merchant immediately and request that the
necessary adjustments be made. To illustrate, if you
are shown a floor model of a music system featuring
both a compact disk player and a radio and what
you discover when you open the box at home is only
the radio, this is a clear discrepancy. If, however,
you pick an unboxed radio from a shelf, take it to a
register and pay for it, and only when you get home
discover that it does not play compact disks, you will
generally forfeit any claims. The same is true if an
item is delivered and you fail to inspect it properly
before accepting it. Similarly, you cannot return the
music-system six months later and claim that you
only just discovered that it lacks the compact-disk
player.
30
K N OW YO U R R I G H T S !
premises, or offers initiated by a salesperson and
conducted in any way that brings them to the
customer’s location in order to contract business.
Picture this scenario; you arrive home after a
long day of work and are trying to put together
some dinner while attempting to convince your
children to do their homework, and you hear
your doorbell ring. You open the door to find
a friendly salesman extolling the wonders of a
new kind of cookware. Meanwhile, your dinner
is burning, your dog is barking hysterically, and
the kids are cranking up the volume of the T.V.
In a moment of weakness, and in order to get
rid of the salesman, you agree to purchase the
cookware. Afterwards you regret the purchase.
The law is on your side, and you may cancel the
agreement within fourteen days.
Special Cancellation Rights for Specific
Types of Contracts:
the law permits cancellation of specific forms of
contracts, for any reason, even if no violation of
the contract on the part of the seller has occurred.
These include long-distance sales (e.g. catalogue,
television-shopping-channel, and on-line purchases)
purchases made from peddlers or door-to-door
salespersons, and sales of holiday apartments.
• The law requires long-distance merchants
to present full details about the quality of
an item, its main features, price, payment
conditions, expected delivery time, warranties
and information about your rights to cancel the
transaction. You may return an item purchased
by ‘long distance,’ within 14 days of receipt,
or of receipt of specifications documentation,
whichever occurs later. If, for example, you
purchase a sweater from a catalogue and then
decide that you don’t want to receive it, the law
gives you fourteen days from the date of your
order to notify the catalogue merchant, in writing,
that you wish to cancel the sale. Send the letter
by registered mail or by fax.
• Sales of vacation apartments are generally
characterized by all kinds of gimmicks designed
to encourage people to make a purchase even if
they don’t want or need a vacation unit. Because
of the volume of consumer complaints, consumer
protection laws were amended to include a
special clause specific to vacation apartments.
This clause mandates full disclosure of details
and the right to cancel a purchase agreement
for any reason within 14 days from signing the
contract, or receipt of documentation of details,
whichever is later.
• You may cancel a transaction made with a
peddler or door-to-door salesperson within 14
days of receipt of the merchandise. The law
defines “peddling,” and “door-to-door” sales
as offers made to customers outside of a sales
31
K N OW YO U R R I G H T S !
Replacement Parts and Service
Your Right to Know
Consumer protection laws mandate that when selling items worth more than a specific
shekel amount merchants provide the customer with the following information:
• Whether there is a supply of replacement parts in Israel.
• Where you can obtain replacement parts.
• Where to receive service on the item.
If the merchant fails to make this information available, the customer is entitled to cancel
the transaction in writing within 2 weeks of the agreement, or from receipt of goods,
whichever is the later date.
The law concerning replacement parts applies to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Air conditioners
• Audio systems (including radios, speakers,
amplifiers, compact disk players, remote
controls)
• Baby carriages
• Bicycles
• Cameras
• Computer hard-drives of all types
• Computer keyboards
• Computer monitors
• Computer printers
• Digital watches
• Dishwashers
• Electric juicers
• Electric sewing machines
• Electric shavers
• Electric toothbrushes
• Fax machines
• Food processors
• Heaters
• Kerosene heaters
32
Knitting machines
Microwave ovens
Ovens (gas, electric, combination)
Personal computers
Scanners
Stoves (gas, electric, combination)
Telephones
Toasters
Vacuum cleaners
Video cameras
K N OW YO U R R I G H T S !
have purchased a computer program following
the salesclerk’s assurance that it is suitable for
all operating systems. Afterwards, you discover
that this is not true. The law gives you the right
to cancel the transaction. This also pertains to
a situation in which the salesclerk did not say
anything, but it was reasonable to assume that
the program may not have been suitable for all
systems.
Unfair Contracts
– Are They Valid?
In another example, a new immigrant enters
a computer store looking for a simple home
computer. The sale representative, aware that the
immigrant is confused and does not understand
Hebrew, manages to sell him a far more expensive
computer system than he wanted or needed. The
law defines this as exploitation, and gives the
customer the right to cancel the transaction within
two weeks of contracting the purchase or receipt
of the merchandise, whichever is later. A court
may also approve a cancellation even later.
Here’s a third example. A person with a severe
toothache visits a dentist’s office. He is in
significant pain and not thinking clearly, and the
dentist demonstrably and vastly overcharges for
a basic treatment. The law also considers this
“taking advantage of distress,” and not only is
this person entitled to a refund of their money; the
dentist has committed a criminal offense.
A contract symbolizes a meeting of minds and
interests. But what happens when this meeting of
minds doesn’t really exist? In situations where one
party has been intentionally mislead, exploited,
or taken advantage of because of distressed
circumstances or state of mind, the law offers
protection and permits the cancellation of the
contract. The cancellation may be accomplished
by sending a written notice to the other party
within a reasonable period of time of discovering
the ill intent.
From "Baduk" #38
Newsflash:
A new consumer law became effective in
September 2006 that requires a one-year
warranty on all electrical, electronic, and
gas products that cost more than NIS 150.
Further, any faulty product must be repaired
within 10 days following return, and large
appliances such as washing machines,
must be fixed in the customer’s home.
The law views “misleading a customer” as the
failure, either active or passive, to reveal pertinent
information that the consumer should be aware
of. The mislead party may cancel the contract
in writing within a reasonable time of becoming
aware of having been misled. For example, you
33
R E S O U R C E S
This directory is a general guide to the resources that are available to consumers. Note that the Ministry
of Immigrant Absorption does not recommend or endorse any particular body or service. It is up to each
individual to investigate and decide upon the most appropriate source of assistance.
The Director of Consumer Protection
Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor
(Hamemuneh LeHaganat HaTzarchan)
www.tamas.gov.il
[email protected]
Public Complaints Officer, Banking Supervision
Dept.
P.O.B. 780, Jerusalem
1212-200680
[email protected]
Fax: (02) 6669077
Bezek Telephone
Company
Service Center Line
The Director of Consumer Protection is responsible
for enforcing the ‘Consumer Protection Law’
of 1981. This includes prohibitions against
misleading consumers, against exploiting
consumers in distress, and against misleading
advertising. The law also applies to consumer
information, regulation of advertising directed
at children, regulation of product labeling, and
protection against fraud in door-to-door sales,
sales of vacation apartments, and sales by
telephone or other electronic means.
5 Rehov Bank of Israel
Jerusalem 94190
Israel Electric
Company Hotline
103
www.iec.co.il
For reporting power outages.
Ministry of Communications
www.moc.gov.il
(02) 6662590
Public inquiries about telephone rates, the Postal
Authority, cell phone companies, and cable
television.
The Israel Standards Institute
www.sii.org.il
[email protected]
Public Inquiries about
Cable and Satellite Television (02) 6702210
The Israel Standards Institute formulates standards
for a variety of products, and tests products
manufactured both locally and overseas. The
Institute’s website contains a large number of
articles containing consumer information (in
Hebrew).
Public Inquiries
Public Inquiries about
the Postal Banks
Information Line for postal rates, postal codes,
and posting packages:
171
Public Inquiries:
1-599-500-171
Information and Public Inquiries
Bank of Israel
www.bankisrael.gov.il
[email protected]
Services
(02) 6702237
Israel Postal Authority
www.israelpost.co.il
(03) 6465130
Complaints about Banking
Information on Banks:
199
Fax: 198
and
34
R E S O U R C E S
Public Inquiries
[email protected]
Population Administration
Public Inquiries
Ministry of Health
www.health.gov.il
Main Office
2 Rehov Ben Tabai
POB 1176
Jerusalem 91010
The Ministry of Tourism (02) 6754811
www.tourism.gov.il
14 Rehov HaArba’a
Tel Aviv 64739
You can submit complaints about hotels or other
tourist services to the Ministry’s main office, or
through their website.
(03) 5634706
The Ministry of Transportation and Road
Safety
www.mot.gov.il
Public Ombudsman
[email protected]
Public Inquiries
[email protected]
For public inquiries in cases of refusal to register
a person in health fund, limiting registration
through special conditions or payments, or cases
in which a health fund refuses to provide a service
specified by the government as part of the “basket
of health services.”
(03) 9545400
Fax: (03) 9545450
Public complaints about public transportation
(buses and taxis)
Jerusalem
Fax: (02) 6663199
Tel Aviv
Fax: (03) 5657216
Haifa
Fax: (04) 8632029
*6800
Fax: (02) 5655981
You can also submit complaints via the Ministry
website.
Public Inquiries
[email protected]
Municipal Authorities 105/6/7
Public inquiries about water supplies and water
pressure, pipe damage, environmental pests, and
other infrastructure issues.
For public inquiries regarding physicians and
dentists, the Freedom of Information law, and
other inquires that are not related to the National
Health Insurance Law.
29 Rehov Rivka
Jerusalem 93461
(02) 6294701
(02) 6705705
National Food Service
[email protected]
29 Rehov Rivka
Jerusalem 93461
(02) 6294750
The Public Ombudsman of the State
Comptroller’s Office
www.mevaker.gov.il
[email protected]
12 Rehov Omar El Kayam
Hadar Hacarmel, Haifa
(04) 8604444
POB 4394 31043
Fax: (04) 8604446
(02) 5681318
Fax: (02) 6725836
The Ministry of the Interior
www.pnim.gov.il
Telephone Information Center *3450
35
R E S O U R C E S
12 Rehov Beit Hadfus
Givat Shaul, Jerusalem
POB 669
(02) 6665000
Fax: (02) 6665204
19 Rehov HaArba’a
Tel Aviv
POB 7024, 61070
(03) 6844000
Fax: 6851512
8b Rehov Henrietta Szold
Beer Sheva
(08) 6232777
Fax: (08) 6851512
sent to the defendant. Ensure that your copy is
stamped ‘received’ (‘nitkabel’) and dated. For
each additional defendant or witness, you must
submit an additional copy of the form. Attach
copies of all of your supporting documents to
each copy of the form.
• On the day of your court proceedings, bring all
relevant documents, as well as any witnesses.
If a witness refuses to appear, you may obtain
a subpoena that will require that witness to
testify.
• Neither the plaintiff nor the defendant is
entitled to representation by an attorney or any
other envoy before a Small Claims Court. You
can, however, seek legal counsel before the
proceedings, and an attorney may assist you
in preparing claims and statements of defense.
Public inquiries regarding government services,
as well as the Postal Authority, the State Lottery,
universities, and other public bodies
Small Claims Courts
• Small Claims Courts (Batei HaMishpat LeTviot
Katanot) hear civil suits for monetary sums
up to a set maximum. You can file a suit for
compensation in a Small Claims Court when
contracts or terms of sale are violated, for
the exchange or repair of a product, or the
cancellation of a transaction.
• You can appeal a verdict of a Small Claims
Court within 15 days. Appeals should be in
writing, and sent, along with a copy of the
verdict, to a District Court judge.
• In order to implement a court decision, send
the liable party a written request for the
compensation ordered by the court (be sure to
retain a copy for yourself.). If the liable party
ignores the request, or refuses to pay, you may
open a file for the enforcement of a court ruling.
Bring a copy of the verdict, certified by the
court that handed it down, to an Enforcement
Bureau (Lishkat HaHotza’a LePoal). Fill out a
form detailing the liable party and the steps
you would like to be taken against them. You
must also pay a fee, which is added to the
compensation already awarded to you, along
with any other expenses involved in enforcing
the verdict. See also “”Know Your Rights! The
Hotza’a LePoal” ConsumerFocus #6 Summer
2010.
• You can obtain claims forms (ktavei tvia) and
statement of defense forms (ktav hagana) free
of charge at the Court Secretariat office of any
Small Claims Court. You can also download
them from www.court.gov.il. The fee for filing
a claim is a percentage of the monetary
amount of the claim. You must pay the fee by
purchasing and affixing ‘income stamps’ (bulei
hachnasa) to the form. You can obtain income
stamps at any post office branch. Be sure to
attach any documents that support your claim,
including receipts, professional opinions and
appraisals, and prior correspondence. Make
sure that the defendant is a legal entity, i.e.
an individual or a corporation. Write the full
name and address of the person or company
clearly and precisely. If possible, indicate the
individual’s father’s name and identity number
(mispar zehut). You need to submit at least
three copies of the claim sheet to the Small
Claims Court. You retain one copy, and one is
The Hotza’a LePoal
www.eca.gov.il
Information Line *35592
To find the Small Claims Court nearest you, see
the Court System website:
www.court.gov.il
36
R E S O U R C E S
Tluna
www.tluna.co.il
Non-profit and Voluntary
Organizations
The following organizations all accept public
complaints and offer advice and assistance with
consumer issues. As a general rule, you should
file a complaint in writing, along with all relevant
documents, including agreements, receipts, and
any written communication with the company,
merchant, or corporation.
On-line (Hebrew) site handles complaints against
merchants, cell-phone companies, cable and
satellite television and more.
Consumer Protection Authority of the
Histadrut
93 Rehov Arlozorov
Tel Aviv
(03) 6921235
Emun HaTzibur
www.emun.org
The Ministry of Immigrant
Absorption
www.moia.gov.il
[email protected]
Emun HaTzibur strives to make information
available to the public about the reliability and
quality of services and products, conformity to
laws, customer service, etc.
(03) 9733333
Public Inquiries
(02) 6752765
Southern and Jerusalem
District Headquarters
31 Rehov Zalman Shazar
Beer Sheva
Israel Consumers’ Association (Independent)
35 Rehov HaMelech George
Tel Aviv
(03) 5285228
Fax: (03) 5259332
Haifa and Northern
District Headquarters
15 Rehov HaPalyam
Haifa
Israel Consumers Council
www.consumers.org.il
Tel Aviv
(03) 6241034
Religious Consumers’ Organization
P.O.B. 69, Bnai Brak
(03) 5793337
Women Against Offensive Advertising
Contact the Israel Women’s’ Network
www.iwn.org.il
[email protected]
Activists identify and respond to advertisements
that are offensive or harmful to women and girls.
They send letters and apply public pressure on the
advertisers to remove the offensive advertisement.
8 Rehov Hata’ash
Ramat Gan
National Telephone
Information Center
37
(04) 8631111/6
Jerusalem District Office
15 Rehov Hillel
Jerusalem
1-599-500-923
Publications Department
Fax: (02) 6241585
Tel Aviv and Central
District Headquarters
6 Rehov Esther HaMalka
Tel Aviv
(03) 6123990
(08) 6261216
(03) 5209112
Other Available Publications
The following booklets are available from the Publications Department. To order, simply indicate the booklets
you wish to receive and return the order form to the Publications Department, English Section, Ministry of
Immigrant Absorption, 15 Rehov Hillel, Jerusalem 94581. The publications will be mailed to you free of
charge.
Guide for the New Immigrant
The Absorption Basket
Employment
Education
Guarding Your Health in Israel
A Guide to Services for the Disabled
A Guide to Transportation in Israel
A Guide to Ulpan Study
Absorption First Steps
Health Services in Israel
Higher Education
Housing
The Life Cycle in Israel
Military Service
National Insurance Institute
Retirees
Accountants
Artists, Writers, and Athletes
Computer and Hi-Tech Professionals
Engineers and Architects
Lawyers
Medical Professionals
Nurses
Psychologists
Scientists and Researchers
Social Workers
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Where to Turn
Assistance to Victims of Enemy Actions
Registering for a Health Fund
Information for Olim Newspaper
Shiluv Magazine
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38
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